Data from the poll shows Clinton is 12 points ahead of Trump. Officials from the Hampton University Center for Public Policy say the surge reveals how volatile the run for the White House is as the election nears.

For instance, when Virginians were asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, 46 percent of those surveyed said they would vote for Clinton, with 34 percent choosing Trump; and 20 percent being undecided.

Just one month ago, Clinton led Trump by only two points, at 43 percent to 41 percent, according to a previous poll.

Kelly Harvey, director of the Hampton University Center for Public Policy, issued the following statement:

While every poll is a snapshot in time, the results of this poll are the result of a perfect storm of events in our nation at the time the poll was conducted: domestic terrorist attacks in New York and Minnesota, the first Presidential debate of the election cycle, the fallout and aftermath of that debate, including the controversy concerning a former beauty queen, and, an endorsement by a highly respected former GOP Virginia Senator in favor of the democratic ticket of Clinton and Kaine. Our poll numbers reflect all of those elements.